My Rating
“One Man’s Fate”
Jared Stevens has been exiled to some godforsaken planet while Doctor Occult and the Sentinel argue over the fate of Fate. Alan Scott wants the artifacts, Doctor Occult has his own ideas about where they belong, and Jared is stuck somewhere in the middle of outer space waiting for the cosmic lawyers to sort everything out. So, what does the wielder of the artifacts of Fate do to pass the time on a planet filled with exotic aliens? Drink!
With a fistful of metal coins provided by the Sentinel, Jared walks into the first bar he can find. Inside, bodies are strewn across the floor like discarded beer cans after a fraternity party. Tables are smashed, chairs are overturned, and only one man remains sitting comfortably at the bar. His name is Lobo. What could possibly go wrong? It’s time for two of the most hated bastards in the universe to party down! Cue the drinking montage…
But all good drinking binges must eventually come to an end. What will become of Jared Stevens and the artifacts of Fate? Will Doctor Occult and the Sentinel finally settle their supernatural custody battle? Is the Warrior Bar the most dangerous tavern on Earth? Wait—is that Robotman punching Jared in the face?! After twelve issues of Order, Chaos, monsters, cosmic courtrooms, bathroom emergencies, and general insanity, Jared Stevens has reached the end of the road. Collect the final issue to find out!
Review
I’m actually kind of bummed to see this series canceled. It took me twelve issues to really appreciate what DC Comics was trying to do with Jared Stevens, but somewhere along the way this smart-ass, knife-wielding replacement for Doctor Fate won me over. The character had a lot of potential, especially once Keith Giffen stopped worrying about traditional superhero conventions and allowed Jared’s corner of the DC Universe to become its own little Weirdoverse. Unfortunately, just when everything seemed to click, the series was over.
At least they sent the bastard out with a bang! Pairing Jared Stevens with Lobo for the finale is such a ridiculous idea that it works perfectly. Drinking, fighting, aliens, smashed-up bars—what more could I ask for? Better yet, Lobo co-creator Keith Giffen handles the artwork himself for this final issue. After my disappointment with the sudden artistic change in issue #11, I must admit I’m glad Matt Smith didn’t draw the finale. Nothing against Smith’s talent; his style simply didn’t feel right for The Book of Fate. Giffen’s artwork gives “One Man’s Fate” exactly the manic energy this send-off needed.
I started reading this series because I wanted to explore one of the stranger forgotten corners of 1990s DC Comics. I finished it wishing there were another twelve issues waiting for me. Jared Stevens may not have been the Doctor Fate longtime fans wanted, but he certainly wasn’t boring. Give me Lobo, Robotman, magical bandages, cosmic nonsense, bar fights, and one last adventure with the most irritated supernatural hero in the DC Universe. I’m giving this final issue five out of five stars for coolness alone!